Overcap feed and orienting device



Oct. 3. 1967 G. E. SCHULTZ OVERCAP FEED AND ORIENTING DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed May 9, 1966 FIHHHFIFIHHUH INVENTOR.

GEORGE E. SCHULTZ ATTYS.

1967 e. E. S CHULTZ 3,344,901

OVERCAP FEED AND QRIENTING DEVICE Filed May 9, 1966 2 Sheetsheet 2 FIG. 3-

CENTER OF /6 GRAVITY CENTER 4 GRAVITY l] FIG- 9 INVENTOR. GEORGE E. SCHULTZ BY 5% 3M FIG. 8

ATTf S.

GRAVITY United States Patent 0 3,344,901 OVERCAP FEED AND ORIENTING DEVICE George E. Schultz, Chicago, IlL, assignor of one-half to Arthur N. Monaco, Park Ridge, Ill. Filed May 9, 1966, Ser. No. 548,721 10 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for feeding and orienting cups or overcaps including a vertically oriented adjustable conveyor with a high friction type belt. The cups or overcaps are fed into a hopper the lower outlet of which permits a plurality of cups to ride in depth on the access side of the belt conveyor thereby tumbling the same substantially to urge the heavy end downward. At the outlet of the tumbling area, a rotating paddle is provided the peripheral gap between which and the upper surface of the belt is adjustable so that the paddle serves to wipe off any multiple layer cups. The top end of the conveyor is provided with a pair of converging rails which sequence the cups into alignment in a confined area for controlled flow, whereupon they are dropped off on a steep chute and begin to ride on their peripheral edges on a flat rail or track which is of sufiicient height to support cups. Finally, at the end of the flat track is positioned a single rail or rod which is interchangeable to suit the specific dynamics of the parts being selected and which has a thickness or contour sufficient to support only properly oriented cups or overcaps, by virtue of the orientation of its center of gravity on a vertical axis which is between the point of tangency or contact between the small support rail and the chute support. When the cup or overcap is not in the fiat side down position, the center of gravity is then outside the point of tangency and the support face of the chute and it is tumbled' or rejected.

The present invention relates to a cup feeding and orienting device, and also to a method for orienting and feeding cups.

With the daily increase in the number of products being packaged in aerosol type dispensers, and the fantastic increase in the use of aerosol packaging generally, higher and higher speed is required in the filling and final packaging for shipment of such dispensers. In addition, to protect the aerosol valve from premature or inadvertent discharge, plastic or metal overcaps are quite often applied to the aerosol can. These overcaps in addition to providing a safety feature, are also decorative when used on the aerosol can as the same is stored on a shelf.

After each aerosol can is filled, and the valve placed in its final operative position, the overcap or cup must ;be placed on the top of each can before it goes off the production line for its final packaging and shipping. Speeds of the aerosol filling lines now are up to as fast as 300 units per minute, and accordingly the cups or overcaps must be delivered at a corresponding rate. Obviously at this feed rate hand feeding would require several persons to not only insure proper magazine loading, but to make sure of precise orientation.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide both a method and apparatus for orienting Bfidfifil Patented Oct. 3, 1967 randomly stored cups or overcaps and feeding the same into a track reliably at rates of 300 per minute or better.

A more detailed object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for the rapid feeding and orientation of cups or overcaps which can be readily serviced, and visually inspected throughout its entire operation, and further coordinated directly into an aerosol production line.

Still a further object of the present invention looks to the provision of a method for orienting and feeding cups or overcaps which relies on the inherent location of the center of gravity of the cups or overcaps for its operation, and therefore minimizes the number of moving parts, and renders any construction employed strictly mechanical in operation for achieving high speed feed and orienting rates.

Still a further object of the present invention is achieved by providing a method and apparatus for orienting and feeding cups and overcaps which is not only relatively inexpensive to manufacture, but which is also extremely economical to service.

The method of the present invention stems from the discovery that in feeding cups or overcaps for high speed delivery and positive orientation they should first be tumbled onto an elevating conveyor. The frictional engagement of the cups or overcaps by the conveyor belt will insure that a majority of the cups or overcaps are oriented on the incline with the open end up. After the tumbling operation, a wiping step is performed in order to insure that only a single level of cups or overcaps are on the conveyor.

The cups are then gated into alignment in a confined area for controlled flow, and dumped down a chute to ride on a rail or track, and just before discharge into a magazine, are constrained at a point which is in stable equilibrium with the center of gravity of a properly oriented cup, but in unstable equilibrium with the center of gravity of an improperly oriented cup whereby when the latter condition occurs the improperly oriented cup is rejected. As indicated above, since this occurs in only a minority of cases, the bulk of the cups or overcaps pass through directly into the magazine for feeding.

The specific apparatus employed contemplates a vertically oriented adjustable conveyor with a high friction type belt. The cups or overcaps are fed into a hopper the lower outlet of which permits a plurality of cups to ride in depth on the access side of the belt conveyor thereby tumbling the same substantially to urge the heavy end downward. At the outlet of the tumbling area, a rotating paddle is provided the peripheral gap between which and the upper surface of the belt is adjustable so that the paddle serves to wipe off any multiple layer cups. The top end of the conveyor is provided with a pair of converging rails which sequence the cups into alignment in a confined area for controlled flow, whereupon they are dropped off on a steep chute and begin to ride on their peripheral edges on a flat rail or track which is of sufficient height to support cups. Finally, at the end of the fiat track is positioned a single rail or rod which is interchangeable to suit the specific dynamics of the parts being selected and which has a thickness or contour sufiicient to support only properly oriented cups or overcaps, by virtue of the orientation of its center of gravity on a vertical axis which is between the point of tangency or contact between the small support rail and the chute support. When the cup or overcap is not in the flat side down position, the center of gravity is then outside the point of tangency and the support face of the chute and it is tum-bled or rejected.

Further objects and advantages of the invention, as Well as features of the method and apparatus as set forth broadly above will become apparent as the following description of an illustrative embodiment proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side plan view, partly sectionized, of a cup feeding and orienting device exemplary of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the device of FIG, 1;'

FIG. 3 is an end plan view, illustrating the orienting chute of the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the upper end of the conveyor, illustrating the manner in which the orienting chute is adjustably affixed to the device;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are two views illustrating the method of the invention, showing how the equilibrium of the cups are upset so that the center of gravity will cause them to spill if improperly oriented;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are two views similar to those of FIGS. 5 and 6, illustrating another type of cup which may be oriented, and the manner in which this is accomplished; and

, FIG. 9 is a side plan view of the spilling rail affixed to the spill chute, for orienting the caps of FIGS. 7 and 8.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings, it can be seen that a feeding and orienting device 10 exemplary of the invention includes a hopper 12 having an outlet 14 at the lower end of its one side, which hopper is positionably supported to spill, in mass, a number of cups or overcaps 16 onto the lower end of a conveyor 18. The overcaps 16, which can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 are generally cylindrical hollow bodies having one closed end 17. The overcaps 16 may be of various types of material such as plastic or metal, and, as indicated above, 7

are generally applied to aerosol cans to protect the aerosol valve from premature or inadvertent discharge. Since the overcaps are hollow and have one closed end, the center of gravity of the overcaps is at a point interiorly thereof slightly above the closed end 17. The structure and the operation of the feeding and orienting device 10 is dependent upon the location of the center of gravity of the overcap 16, as explained more fully below.

The conveyor 18 is a belt type conveyor formed of a high friction material which may be a pebble-type rubberized canvas type belt, and is supported by means of adjustable legs 20 so that its angular incline can be adjusted to both provide a proper tumbling of the overcaps and to assure that the overcaps are transported up the incline 0f the conveyor. It will be appreciated that if the incline of the conveyor is too shallow, the overcaps will not be caused to tumble at the lower end thereof or, if the incline is too steep, the weight of the overcaps will prevent them from moving along with the conveyor belt. Accordingly, by observing the overcaps as they are spilled onto the conveyor and as they move up the incline on the conveyor belt, the angular position of the conveyor can be easily adjusted by positioning the legs 20, to provide proper tumbling and flow of the overcaps.

The tumbling action of the overcaps at the lower end of the conveyor 18 functions to pre-orient a large number of the overcaps, so that the closed end 17 thereof rides on the conveyor belt. The combined action of the tumbling and the center of gravity of the overcaps 16 generally tends to cause them to assume this pre-oriented position, and it is generally found that a majority of the overcaps are oriented on the conveyor belt in this position, after being tumbled.

A paddle wheel 22 having a number of paddles 24 radially extending therefrom is rotatably supported above the conveyor 18 in spaced relation so that the peripheral gap between the ends of the paddles 24 and the conveyor 18 substantially corresponds to the height of the overcaps 16. The paddles 24 function to wipe ofi any multiple layer of overcaps so that only a single layer of overcaps will move up the conveyor 18 to its opposite end. The overcaps wiped ofi by the paddles 24 are projected back into the mass of overcaps at the end of the conveyor 18 and are again caused to be tumbled to preorient them before again moving up the conveyor.

Near the upper end of the conveyor 18 are two rails 26 and 28 which function to align the overcaps in a confined area for control flow, before the overcaps are spilled over the end of the conveyor 18 onto a chute 30. A guide 32 is affixed above the end of the conveyor 18 and is adjustably positioned in spaced relation thereto to assure that the overcaps are retained in the same pre-oriented position as they drop onto the chute 30. Accordingly, the guide 32 is provided with a radius of curvature which substantially corresponds to the radius formed by the conveyor belt as it rotates about the conveyor roller 34 and is positioned with respect to the conveyor belt so that the upper most trailing edge of the overcaps slidingly engages the guide 32 as they progress over the end of the conveyor 18 and onto the chute 30. V

The chute 30 has a base 34 which is a planar surface and which has a fiat rail or track 36 affixed to it which extends downwardly from its end nearest the end of the conveyor 18 at an angle of approximately 30 to a point just above the lower edge of the base 34, and from that point the track 36 is angled downwardly at an angle of approximately 15. The rails 26 and 28 above the conveyor near its end function to align the overcaps so that they are spilled onto the chute 30 against the track 36 at a point somewhere along the steeper inclined portion thereof. In this manner, the overcaps feed by gravity to the end of the track 36. The top plate 40, which is preferably transparent so that the overcaps can be observed as they spill onto the chute 30, is affixed to the chute 30 to overlay its base 34 in spaced relation thereto so that the overcaps are confined and prevented from spilling off of the conveyor 18, and so that the overcaps are free to roll or slide down the track 36 between the base 34 and the top plate 40.

At the end of the track 36 is positioned a rod 42 which is interchangeable to suit the specific dynamics of the parts being oriented, and which has a thickness or contour suflicient to support only properly oriented overcaps, that is, overcaps having their closed ends 17 riding along the base 34, as the overcaps slide or roll across the rod 42, in the manner described below.

The chute 30 is adjustably afiixed to the end of the conveyor 18 so that the angle at which it projects vertically downwardly can be adjusted to upset the equilibrium of the overcaps sufliciently so that the center of gravity of improperly oriented overcaps will cause them to be spilled, and therebyrejected, as they slide or roll across the rod 42. Accordingly, the angular position of the chute 30 is adjusted so that the orientation of the center of gravity of the overcaps, on a vertical axis is between the point of tangency or contact between the rod 42 and the base 34 of the chute 30, when the overcaps are properly oriented With their open ends facing away from the base 34. When the overcaps are improperly oriented with their closed ends 17 facing away from the base 34, the center of gravity is then outside the point of tangency or contact between the rod 42 and the base 34, and the equilibrium of the overcaps is thereby sufiiciently upset to cause them to spill or tumble over the rod 42 supporting them.

, From the above description, it can be seen that the method of feeding and orienting the overcaps is solely dependent upon upsetting the equilibrium of the overcaps so that the center of gravity of improperly oriented over caps will cause them to be spilled and thereby rejected as they pass over or along the rod 42.

Upon passing over the rod 42, the properly oriented overcaps pass into a conveyor 44 in the form of a closed chute, and are transported by the conveyor 44 to a subsequent station where at they can be afiixed to an aerosol can by means of automated equipment or the like. Afiixed to the conveyor 44 is a detecting device which is adapted to indicate when the conveyor 44 has a supply of overcaps backed up in it and to control the operation of the conveyor 18 to stop its operation to prevent additional overcaps from being directed into the conveyor 44. This feature is provided to prevent the feeding and orienting device from becoming jammed by having an overflow of overcaps feeding into the conveyor 44, once it is filled to its capacity. The detector 19 can be a Jet-Tron type detector of the type provided by the Automation Devices Corporation, Erie, Pa. Time control relays (not shown) can be incorporated into the circuitry controlling the operation of the conveyor 18 so that once the conveyor 18 is stopped it will not be energized again for a short period of time to prevent the conveyor from being intermittently operated as the detector 19 is cleared.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, there is disclosed an overcap 50 which is substantially like the overcaps 16 in that it is a hollow cylindrical body having a closed end 52. The overcap 50, however, has a peripheral flange 54 extending about its edge at its open end. When feeding and orienting overcaps 50, a second rail 56 having a tapered top wall 58 is aflixed to the base 34 of the chute 30 in spaced relation to the rod 42. The space between the rail 56 and the rod 42 is adjusted so that the flange 54 of improperly oriented overcaps will engage and slide up the top wall 58 of the rail 56 to thereby upset the equilibrium of the overcaps so that the center of gravity of the overcaps will cause them to be spilled and thereby reject improperly oriented ones of them. The rail 56 therefore provides a positive assist in rejecting the improperly oriented ones of the overcaps as they pass over the rod 42. It can be seen that properly oriented overcaps will ride between the rail 56 and the rod 42 and into the conveyor 44, in the manner described above.

As indicated above, the rod 42 is interchangeable to suit the specific dynamics of the parts, in this case, overcaps, being oriented. Accordingly, the rod 42 is selected so that the orientation of the center of gravity of the patricular part being oriented, or a vertical axis, is between the point of tangency or contact between the rod 42 and the base 34, when the parts are properly oriented. Also, the thickness and/or contour of the rod 42 should be such that the vertical orientation of the center of gravity of improperly oriented parts is outside the point of tangency or contact with the rod 42 and the base 34 so that the parts will be caused to spill or tumble off of the rod 42, and hence be rejected.

At the position where the overcaps are rejected, a storage bin can be provided for collecting the rejected overcaps or, alternatively, additional conveyor means can be provided for carrying the overcaps back and into the hopper 12 to be redeposited on the lower end of the conveyor 18.

An air nozzle 61 (FIG. 3) having a source of pressurized air (not shown) can be afiixed to the chute 30 to provide an air jet on the caps as they pass over the rod 42. The air nozzle 61 is preferably adjusted to direct the air jet onto the upper edge of an improperly oriented cup as it is slightly tilted, sothat it expedites the spilling and hence rejection of the cup but will not be directly against a properly oriented cup. Another air nozzle 63 (FIG. 2) can be coupled to the same source and affixed to the conveyor 44 to direct an air jet into the conveyor. This air jet will speed up the delivery from one end of the conveyor 44 to its exit end.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above,

among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained, and since certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by letters Patent is:

1. A feeding and orienting device for hollow bodies having one closed end comprising, in combination: conveyor means for transporting a plurality of said hollow bodies along a first path; a drop-off chute pivotally afiixed at one end of said conveyor means; converging means at the upper portion of said conveyor means for aligning said hollow bodies in a confined area for a controlled fiow onto said drop-off chute; rail means on said drop-off chute for supporting said hollow bodies, said rail means being angularly disposed transversely to said first path so that said hollow bodies move along said rail means to its one end; and reject means at said one end of said rail means engaged by said hollow bodies, said drop-off chute being pivoted angularly about an axis transversely disposed with respect to said first path to upset the equilibrium of said hollow bodies when engaged with said reject means to cause improperly oriented hollow ob jects to spill by gravity to reject the same and to permit properly oriented hollow bodies to pass.

2. The feeding and orienting device of claim 1 wherein said drop-off chute is pivoted angularly to a position with respect to said hollow bodies so that a vertical line through the center of gravity of the hollow bodies when oriented with its closed end against said drop-off chute will pass between the point of contact with said reject means and said drop-oif chute thereby passing a properly oriented hollow body and permitting a gravity inspired spill reject of improper oriented hollow bodies.

3. The feeding and orienting device of claim 2 wherein said drop-off chute comprises a planar surface, said rail means being affixed to said planar surface and angularly disposed so that said hollow bodies are gravity moved along said rail means to its one end.

4. The feeding and orienting device of claim 2 further including a source of air for providing a jet of air to expedite the spilling of improperly oriented hollow bodies.

5. The feeding and orienting device of claim 2 wherein the surface of said reject means engaged by said hollow bodies is contoured to provide a minimum amount of surface contact with said hollow bodies .at a point which is above but substantially in the same plane of a line extending through the center of gravity of said hollow bodies and parallel with the surface of said drop-off chute.

6. The feeding and orienting device of claim 5 wherein said rejecting means comprises a cylindrical bar.

7. The feeding and orienting device of claim 2 further including a rail in spaced relation to said reject means, said rail having a tapered top wall engageable by a peripheral flange on said hollow bodies for initiating and assisting in upsetting the equilibrum of said hollow bodies to cause improperly oriented hollow bodies to spill.

8. The feeding and orienting device of claim 2 further including a hopper having a discharge part for spilling a plurality of said hollow bodies onto said conveyor means, said conveyor means being disposed at an angle so that said hollow bodies are caused to pile up atop one another and tumble to pre-orient the same before moving along said conveyor means, said conveyor means comprising a high friction belt type conveyor for assisting in tumbling and transporting said hollow bodies.

9. The feeding and orienting device of claim 8 where'- in said conveyor means is adjustable so that the angular slope thereof can be adjusted to provide a proper flow of hollow bodies.

10. The feeding and orienting device of claim '8 further including paddle means having a plurality of flexible paddles adjustably secured across the top of said conveyor means so that the parallel gap between said flexible paddles and said conveyor means can be adjusted to permit the passage of only a single layer of hollow bodies on the surface thereof, and drive means for rotating said paddle means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Calloway 221-156 X Makenny 19833 Stelzer 19343 X Gruenberg 193-43 X Albertoli 19833 Spurlin 19833 X 10 EVON c. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

R. I. HICKEY, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A FEEDING AND ORIENTING DEVICE FOR HOLLOW BODIES HAVING ONE CLOSED END COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: CONVEYOR MEANS FOR TRANSPORTING A PLURALITY OF SAID HOLLOW BODIES ALONG A FIRST PATH; A DROP-OFF CHUTE PIVOTALLY AFFIXED AT ONE END OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS; CONVERGINT MEANS AT THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS FOR ALIGNING SAID HOLLOW BODIES IN A CONFINED AREA FOR A CONTROLLED FLOW ONTO SAID DROP-OFF CHUTE; RAIL MEANS ON SAID DROP-OFF CHUTE FOR SUPPORTING SAID HOLLOW BODIES, SAID RAIL MEANS BEING ANUGLARLY DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY TO SAID FIRST PATH SO THAT SAID HOLLOW BODIES MOVE ALONG SAID RAIL MEANS TO ITS ONE END; AND REJECT MEANS AT SAID ONE END OF SAID RAIL MEANS ENGAGED BY SAID HOLLOW BODIES, SAID DROP-OFF CHUTE BEING PIVOTED ANGULARLY ABOUT AN AXIS TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED WITH RESPECT TO SAID FIRST PATH TO UPSET THE EQUILIBRIUM OF SAID HOLLOW BODIES WHEN ENGAGED WITH SAID REJECT MEANS TO CAUSE IMPROPERLY ORIENTED HOLLOW OBJECTS TO SPILL BY GRAVITY TO REJECT THE SAME AND TO PERMIT PROPERLY ORIENTED HOLLOW BODIES TO PASS. 